Florida Small Claims Court Palm Beach County

Palm Beach County Small Claims Overview

Palm Beach County small claims cases are heard in the County Court, Civil Division, part of the 15th Judicial Circuit. The main courthouse is at 205 North Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach, with satellite locations serving the northern and southern parts of the county.

All Florida small claims cases follow the same statewide rules — the Florida Small Claims Rules (7.010 et seq.) — with an $8,000 jurisdictional cap. But local administrative orders can modify scheduling and logistics, so confirm your specific courtroom procedures through your summons or the Palm Beach Clerk of Court website.

The Pretrial Conference

Your first mandatory appearance is the pretrial conference, scheduled within 50 days of the lawsuit filing date. This is not a trial. The judge confirms both parties are present, clarifies the issues in dispute, and directs unresolved cases to mandatory mediation under Chapter 44 of the Florida Statutes.

A critical point: you must appear as directed — in person or virtually if your assigned court permits, or through an attorney — regardless of whether you filed a written answer. Under Rule 7.090(c), written defensive pleadings are optional in small claims. What is not optional is showing up. If you are absent, the judge or clerk can enter a default; the court may then proceed to a default final judgment.

The Palm Beach County Clerk's office provides helpful FAQ resources about small claims procedures, including information about counterclaim deadlines. The clerk has noted that counterclaims must be filed at least 5 days before the pretrial conference — and that the 5-day deadline is often buried in longer FAQ documents where defendants miss it.

Counterclaims and Filing Fees

If the plaintiff owes you money from the same transaction, you likely have a compulsory counterclaim under Rule 7.100. If the claim is within the $8,000 small-claims limit, file it in writing at least 5 days before your pretrial conference. Missing this deadline permanently bars the claim if it arises from the same facts.

Filing fees for counterclaims follow the statewide schedule:

• Up to $100: $55
• $100.01 to $500: $80
• $500.01 to $2,500: $175
• $2,500.01 to $8,000: $300

If you assert a compulsory counterclaim exceeding $8,000, small-claims jurisdiction is exceeded. Under Rule 7.100(d), you must file it in writing before or at the pretrial hearing and deposit the required transfer fee with the clerk at filing, unless the court grants additional time. If you deposit the fee, the entire case transfers to the appropriate court division. If not, the right to transfer is waived and the counterclaim may be reduced to the small-claims limit or dismissed without prejudice.

Mediation and Settlement

At the pretrial conference, the court directs parties to court-annexed mediation. Come prepared. That means:

• Three organized copies of your evidence (one for the judge, one for the plaintiff, one for yourself)
• A clear understanding of the minimum settlement you would accept
• Full authority to settle on the spot — the court can sanction parties who appear without settlement authority

If mediation fails, the court sets a trial date within 60 days, with at least 10 days' notice. The trial is a nonjury bench trial unless someone filed a written jury demand within 5 days of service or at the pretrial conference.

What to Do If You Have Been Served

Read every document carefully. Confirm it is a real case by checking the Palm Beach County Clerk's online docket using the case number on your summons. Mark the pretrial conference date. Decide whether to dispute, settle, or counterclaim — and prepare your evidence.

The Florida Small Claims Response Guide walks defendants through each of these steps, from reading the summons to preparing for mediation and trial.

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